Table of Contents
Shocking, but Rihanna didn’t get paid for her Super Bowl performance. The umbrella crooner did put a lot of effort into her performance during the Super Bowl LVII halftime show.
However, she did it at no charge, freely entertaining everyone present. Continue reading to find out why Rihanna was not paid.
NFL Do Not Pay Artists
The renowned halftime show frequently draws the biggest names in music. Over the years, big celebrities like Beyonce and Bruce Springsteen have performed incredibly at the show.
But, as it is customary, all artists deliver their performances for free. “We do not pay the artists,” NFL spokesperson Joanna Hunter told Forbes back in 2016.
However, he added that they cover all expenses and production costs necessary for these artists’ performances.
In December 2022, the NFL‘s vice president of communications, Brian McCarthy, also confirmed that the show only covers all costs associated with the show.
However, he said there are other benefits artists get for their performances alongside a minimum wage. While there is no appearance fee, artists are paid union scale, which is a minimum wage backed by a union contract.
The Other Benefits
There may be no appearance fee, but for many artists, the opportunity to play in front of a sizable crowd is great.
According to Nielsen and NBC streaming data, 112.3 million people watched the Super Bowl last year.
This year’s game was expected to draw even larger audiences.
In addition, after a performance, artists frequently experience an uptick in sales. They also get the opportunity to grow their social media followings.
While Rihanna did not get paid for her Super Bowl performance, she did attract more fans. Her pregnancy reveal has been making headlines, and everyone seems to be gushing over her.
Besides her pregnancy reveal video that has since gone viral, Rihanna also launched her new liquid lipstick, MVP.
The product launched online while the show was going on. Surely, Rihanna’s performance, even though not paid, gave her a larger reach in the last few days.